Vets film to hit screens at festival
Chosen from 7,000 international entries
AFILM about a veterans’ charity has been selected from 7,000 entries to be screened at an international short film festival in Germany.
‘Return. Belong. Prosper.’
is the result of a two-year collaboration between Haslingdenbased Veterans In Communities and researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and filmmakers.
They worked with local veterans to capture their stories to highlight how creativity has helped them transition from military to civilian life.
It is part of a much larger Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project entitled ‘Stories in Transition’ and also involved University of the Arts London and Manchester Metropolitan and Exeter
Universities. Three films were co-created with the others featuring veterans’ charities Waterloo Uncovered and Turn to Starboard.
Representatives from all the charities attended workshops at Bristol’s Watershed, a multi-arts venue and arthouse cinema.
VIC Chief Executive Amanda Walton, Operations Manager Bob Elliott, veterans Darren Horsnell, Steve Butterworth and Dave Joddrell whose stories are told in the film and VIC Project Worker Ray Sharkey, a history graduate who has also got involved with Waterloo Uncovered attended from the charity.
‘Return. Belong. Prosper.’ will be shown at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival in Germany, from April 26 to May 1.
In the cinema, each of the films was shown in front of all the participants and, following each screening, a round table discussion was held.
Bob said: “While our film was being shown I
heard someone say, ‘Wow’. Then when we went back into the room to discuss it someone else also said, ‘Wow’. It must have had quite an impact on them. As well as being filmed, our veterans also got involved in the creation of the films, making story boards, learning about dubbing and editing.”
VIC is different to the other charities because of the varied range of activities and outreach experiences it provides and the support is available five days a week for as long as veterans need it.
All three 30-minute films will be premiered on June 29 at the National Army Museum
in London, when invited guests will be from the MOD, Government, funders and others who are able to make decisions and change the way veterans can be supported during their transitioning process.
Deputy Director of the Veterans and Families Institute at Anglia Ruskin University Dr Nick Caddick said: “The Stories in Transition project has explored the use of cocreated film with veteran organisations.
“Volunteers from Veterans in Communities have co-directed an impactful new film ‘Return. Belong. Prosper.’ to highlight the role that art and community
can play in bringing people together and enriching people’s lives.
“The film playfully explores ‘transition’ from military to civilian life and invites viewers to question their assumptions about what this process entails.”
As a result of the programme, VIC has been offered the chance to join Turn to Starboard on a voyage, which is being planned for next year.
Bob added: “There is some outstanding work from all three charities and we all agreed on what we want the films to do and the changes that are needed.
“Overall, the trip to Bristol was a great learning, emotional and networking experience, we enjoyed great company and we are looking forward to working with them more closely in the future.”
“While our film was being shown I heard someone say, ‘Wow’.”